WALES

In February 2017 the Welsh Government released its summary of responses to the consultation on banning fees to tenants and in February 2018, Housing and Regeneration Minister Rebecca Evans AM confirmed that they will introduce a Bill to the Assembly to ban fees in the private rented sector.

In 2014, the Welsh Government introduced the Housing (Wales) Act, which created the Rent Smart Wales scheme. This requires all letting agents in Wales (and the wider UK who either let or manage rental properties in Wales) to be suitably trained and licensed to carry out letting or property management activities. In 2016, the Welsh Government introduced the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, which paves the way for new ‘occupation contracts’. Since April 2018, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) was replaced with Land Transaction Tax (LTT). Further changes are planned with additional health and safety checks for private rented property on the Welsh Government’s agenda.